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NEWS
Today marks an important step forward for the Greenfield Grain Export Facility project. We are pleased that the St. John the Baptist Parish Council has accepted the recommendation of the Planning and Zoning Commission for the proposed site of the project. Greenfield appreciates the transparent process led by the Parish Council. Moreover, we appreciate the residents of the Westbank community. Their voices of support are opening pathways to revitalization that can coexist with existing tourism-based businesses. Thank you for your vocal support. Together, we are committed to taking the parish into a safer, greener, and more prosperous future.
Greenfield Louisiana joins St. John the Baptist Parish and the nation in celebrating this important day of freedom and reflection. As we commemorate the emancipation of enslaved individuals, let us continue to strive for a future rooted in equality and justice.
Kyle J. Connor Letter to the Editor As the past president of the Loyola University Alumni Association— the first African American to hold that role— I began advising the Greenfield Louisiana grain export facility because I believe it can play a vital role in ensuring the historical and cultural preservation of our region, while also bringing environmental, economic and agricultural security to the West Bank . My many meetings with West Bank residents has confirmed how beneficial this project is to the prosperity of St. John the Baptist Parish families. Greenfield’s mission is to improve the environmental conditions of the community by building a state-of-the-art facility that uses upgraded and safe technology to be the cleanest grain export facility in North America . The facility will outperform current and future environmental and safety standards , and it will be better for the environment than the current sugar farming happening on the site. Preserving our cultural heritage in the region is very important to me . Cultural research surveys have not identified unmarked graves on the site. Prior to construction Greenfield will conduct additional surveys to identify any potential unmarked grave sites and when construction begins, we have a protocol in place to ensure that if any historic artifacts are found they are handled responsibly by the proper authorities.
In the spirit of Thanksgiving, Greenfield Louisiana LLC donated $5,000 each to two recent community food distributions hosted by Harvest Time Christian Center and the St. John Pastors Coalition . Greenfield also deployed volunteers to help out the local clergy at this past weekend’s events. Harvest Time Christian Cultural Center served approximately 350 families with Thanksgiving meal baskets at Juan Anthony Joseph Park in Edgard on Saturday, November 19. On Sunday, November 20, St. John Pastors Coalition reached 1,500 families through its Thanksgiving dinner and food distribution at the church, in addition to making home deliveries to seniors in the parish. “We are so delighted to support Pastor Moll, Pastor Bernard and their congregations. These families are our neighbors , too, and Greenfield is here to support them—especially around the holidays ,” said Tanisha Marshall , project manager at Greenfield. Continue reading at L'Observateur.
Following a three-week closure that began with an uncertain future, the 1811/Kid Ory Historic House is reopening to the public as a nonprofit. A press conference held on the historic grounds Wednesday morning celebrated a key partnership with Greenfield Louisiana LLC that made the reopening possible . The museum is resuming its regular operating hours of 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Thursday through Sunday beginning October 27. Since opening to the public for the first time in early 2021, the former Andry/Woodland Plantation operated essentially rent-free thanks to the generosity of property owner Timothy Sheehan . Locals and tourists alike were introduced to the site that saw the origin of the largest slave slave rebellion in U.S. history and, later, the rise of jazz pioneer Edward “Kid” Ory . However, expenses became too much to bear as an LLC, especially through the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic and Hurricane Ida. When the 1811/Kid Ory Historic House closed its doors on October 1 , museum founder John McCusker said he intended to spend the month of October applying for grants that would provide necessary funding for operations to resume. The groundwork was laid last year when a non-profit was founded as an auxiliary institution to the 1811/Kid Ory Historic House with an eye on them eventually taking over the responsibilities and governance of the museum. According to McCusker, this includes administering programming and grant funding. Key to the creation of the Bonnet Carré Historical Center were Ja’el Gordon , a scholar and early supporter of the museum; Edie Ambrose , a retired professor from Southeastern Louisiana University ; and John Andry , a New Orleans attorney and direct descendent of the man who was killed inside the house on the first night of the 1811 Rebellion. The Bonnet Carré Historical Center was able to secure a $25,000 donation from Greenfield Louisiana LLC , a company seeking permitting to construct a grain elevator on the West Bank of St. John the Baptist Parish . Tanisha Marshall , project manager at Greenfield Louisiana, said partnering with the 1811’Kid Ory Historic House was a no-brainer. Preserving the history the museum shares is important not only to her as an African American woman, but to the company as well. “A central part of our mission at Greenfield is honoring and preserving the extraordinary heritage of communities in St. John the Baptist Parish . We are so proud to partner with the 1811 Kid Ory Historic House to help them reopen, expand their programming and reach, and we are excited to work with them to better fulfill our own responsibilities as stewards of the land in nearby Wallace,” Marshall said. McCusker said the $25,000 donation was more than a breath of fresh air ; it was oxygen the museum needed to get up and running again. “We appreciate the outpouring of support from the community over the last two months before the closure, and Greenfield stepping up to help us may allow us to become a long-term institution. We would not have that opportunity without them ,” McCusker said. “What they’ve given us is a one-time donation, but we’re hoping, if Greenfield is successful in getting their permit and building the grain elevator, that we can be a resource for them . There’s been a lot of discussion about possible historic sites on the Greenfield footprint, and we will be working in an advisory capacity to figure out what might historically be on a specific spot if they discover something.” Continue reading at L'Observateur.